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Catch Comet Encke this evening!
The comet's orbital period is short - only 3.3 years - and the orbit is relatively close to Earth. Encke's Comet is now on its 63rd known visit to our part of space.
February 27, 2017
This date in science: Supernova 1987A
Supernova 1987A first appeared in earthly skies 30 years ago today. It was the closest observed supernova since 1604.
February 23, 2017
Wow! Nearby TRAPPIST-1 has 7 planets
Big discovery! NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed 7 Earth-sized planets orbiting a tiny star only 40 light-years away. Three of them are firmly in the habitable zone.
February 22, 2017
What would life be like near TRAPPIST-1?
The newly discovered exoplanets orbiting this nearby star are likely to be bathed in high-energy ultraviolet radiation. What would life be like there? An expert explains.
February 22, 2017
Brightest, farthest pulsar found!
In one second, this distant pulsar – the spinning remains of a once-massive star – emits the same amount of energy as that released by our sun in 3.5 years.
February 21, 2017
Help astronomers look for Planet 9
There might be an unknown 9th planet that orbits far from Earth, on the outer fringes of our solar system. You can help astronomers find it, if it exists!
February 20, 2017
Watch SpaceX Dragon launch February 18
SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Dragon spacecraft resupply mission to the International Space Station no earlier than 10:01 a.m. EST (1501 UTC) on Saturday, February 18. How to watch.
February 17, 2017
Slooh astronomers catch comet breakup
Will comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann survive its March 16 sweep near the sun, or disintegrate into a trail of cosmic dust?
February 14, 2017
Round object crosses the moon
During Friday's penumbral eclipse of the moon, an observer in Puerto Rico captured images of a black disk moving across the moon's face.
February 13, 2017
Hints of a quiet, stray black hole
Theoretical studies predict 100 million to 1 billion black holes in our Milky Way galaxy. So far, astronomers have found about 60. A serendipitous discovery could lead to finding more.
February 13, 2017
